The Hare and the Hedgehog

Gr 2–4—A hedgehog who is sensitive about his short, crooked legs is teased by an arrogant hare. He challenges the hare to a race, the winner to receive a gold coin and a bottle of mead. Determined to make the hare pay for his mean remarks, the hedgehog hatches a plan. His wife will remain at one end of the furrow, where he is supposed to run, and he will remain at the other, each one saying, "I am here already!" when the hare arrives. The hare is shocked that he could be beaten and insists on rerunning the race 73 times, with identical results. On the 74th run, the hare expires, and the hedgehog gleefully collects his reward. This is a lesser-known Grimm tale, and some modern readers unfamiliar with Grimm stories may find it a bit grisly. It is beautifully told, with some lovely imagery, particularly the way the scene is set before the hedgehog meets the loathsome hare: "One Sunday morning around harvest time, just when the buckwheat was in bloom, the sun was shining brightly, the morning wind was blowing warmly, the larks were singing, the bees were buzzing, people were dressed in their Sunday best, and all the creatures were happy—including the hedgehog." This happiness is about to be destroyed by the mean-spirited comments, and the contrast is striking. The watercolor illustrations are reminiscent of Jerry Pinkney's, as he captured the animals in Aesop's Fables (Seastar, 2000).